Best Of Food & Drink

Cocktails in these heady days are complex magic tricks, summoned from the ether by the showstoppers known as bartenders. But just as there's a difference between a Houdini and the clown at kiddie parties, there's a huge gulf in skill behind all the smoke and mirrors fluffing up craft cocktails...

From the cash-only status to the friendly faces behind the bar, not all that much has changed at Duffy's Tavern in the past 25 years. Considering that this Red Road institution hits the trifecta of any great neighborhood bar — TV sets tuned to live sports, reasonable beer prices, and,...

There are many terms for the person who crafts your cocktail: mixologist, bartender, barkeep. But it's best to just call Julio Cabrera a cantinero, the Cuban term for professional bartender. The word is romantic, conjuring up a sepia-toned image of a gentleman who prides himself on making the perfect drink...

Who says that a delicious, well-prepared breakfast need be reserved for Sunday brunch? At Deli Lane, the thick red plates are constantly full of fluffy eggs and perfectly browned Belgian waffles. If Leslie Knope ever left Pawnee, Indiana, for Miami, she would quickly forget about JJ's Diner after a meal...

Coral Gables is now a bona fide cool dining destination, and we have Bulla to partly thank for it. The name is pronounced boo-yah, which is Spanish slang for the ability to create a stir. Indeed, everyone is talking about the chic gastrobar's relaxed ambiance and unique take on popular...

It's May 4, 2014, and Zak Stern, standing atop a wooden counter in his brand-new, gleaming-white Wynwood bakery, is giving a godawful speech. He begins to talk about the challenges he and his wife, Batsheva Wulfsohn, have overcome, only to interrupt himself every time a familiar face passes through the...

Buffets aren't known for providing quality over quantity, but that doesn't apply at POC. It offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options that won't leave you asking where or when your food was prepared. POC has become a popular brunch spot on Sundays, when the buffet special goes for $17.19...

Pizza is a democratic food item. Most people like pizza — unlike, say, escargots — at the very first taste. And, unlike escargots, it's a humble meal made from bread, tomato, and cheese. The best pizza remains true to its working-class roots in style and price. Indeed, Pauloluigi to Go...

Having pizza brought right to your door is a beautiful thing. At Mario the Baker, a franchise with multiple locations, delivery wait times are short, prices are affordable, and the pies are extra-good. Thin-crusted, lightly sauced Neapolitan-style pizza is eschewed in favor of thicker pies laden with a rich red...

Fluffy green falafel, that is all. You have come to expect those balls from Etzel Itzik, a popular Israeli deli where Hebrew is spoken all around. Glossy photos of customers grace every inch of the walls here. Pictures are also stuffed beneath the glass on the tables at this casual...

Server: Olive oil and paprika? You nod. Sever: Good, you like it like we do.Just like that, you have the perfect hummus. Wissam El-Zoor goes by Sam, and he knows how to sling delicious kebabs, shawarma, dolmas, and a plethora of fresh salads to patrons whom he effortlessly schmoozes. All...

In Miami, it's hard to get a Cuban sandwich wrong. The ingredients are simple (and common) enough: Cuban bread, ham, cheese, some mustard, a squirt of mayo, a pickle or two, and a delicate slice of pork. Sounds heavenly, right? It is if you're taking a bite of the Cuban...

El Rey de las Fritas is the king of all Cuban burgers. Every ground-beef patty is seasoned with a secret family blend of herbs and spices, slathered in a tangy ketchup sauce, served with diced onions, and crusted with crunchy shoestring papitas that overflow the plate. And El Rey, the...

Plenty of people have called Miami a soulless town, but that doesn't mean you can't get good soul food here. Although greasy spoons and bourgie brunches have their place, Jackson Soul Food in Overtown is in a whole other weekend dining category. Jackson's version of brunch is letting you choose...

Johnny Utah. It's the name of Keanu Reeves' character in the '90s cult surfer-gone-bank-robber classic Point Break. It's also the name of the new cult classic on which you're about to feast. Like the perfect wave, the perfect burger is an elusive thing. Though there are many out there, few...

A hot dog with just the right toppings is sweet. Indeed, the franks at Sweet Dogs have it going on with Nathan's kosher quarter-pounders, which can be ordered boiled, grilled, or deep-fried. Beyond the bun and the meat, there are a lot of crazy toppings that give the famed Colombian...

Lobster mac 'n' cheese is hardly the novelty it once was, but in the expert hands of the Pubbelly Group (PB Steak, Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi, L'echon, and Barceloneta), it's elevated to new heights. At PB Steak in Sunset Harbour, chef-partner Jose Mendin and chef de cuisine Guillermo Concho rely on...

The best things in life tend to be the simplest. One example: grilled cheese sandwiches. Luckily, the people at the Cheese Course, an artisanal cheese shop and bistro, understand this. It's why they steer clear of gimmicky add-ons and focus on offering high-quality dairy and bread to create a grilled...

Yo, Jimmy Dean, have you ever considered orange and fennel as a flavor combination? What about prune and cognac? Even Proper Sausages' signature "Proper" is made of Berkshire pork, fresh sage, mace, and black pepper. Do you feel sad, Jimmy Dean? Ashamed? Your sausage game is weak, and sausage is...

"Where does your chili get this hint of sweetness?" we asked at Vega's Burger Bar. Of course came the response "It's sugar." Well, after we were done feeling dumb, we dipped that spoon back into the bowl of homemade beanless beef chili ($5). It was topped with shredded cheese, diced...

Jefferson: So what do you feel like taking in tonight, Art? You finally got a vacation from your job in Atlanta, and I'm guessing you'd like to have yourself a time. Arthur: Indeed, indeed, but I have to tell you, Jeff, I'm mighty hungry. Jefferson: Hungry, eh? Well, what're you...

Venezuelan arepas can come split open like a sandwich with a variety of fillings. At Doggi's, there are plenty of choices. When it comes to something as simple as cheese, there's a rainbow of queso blanco, queso amarillo (Gouda), and queso de mano. Try the arepa domino ($8.99), which comes...

Sure, you'll find some of the tenderest cuts of churrasco with chimichurri at Graziano's Market, but there's one unexpected surprise at this Argentine mercado in Hialeah: a mouth-watering display of empanadas. At $2.59 apiece, these golden pillows of baked goodness come stuffed with various ingredients, including traditional meat, chicken, or...

You know you're at a legit mofongo joint when the signature Puerto Rican plantain dish is served on a platter with its wooden pilón, the same mortar and pestle used to mash the fried plátano verde. Located in the heart of the City of Progress, El Rinconcito de Santa Bárbara...

At Garcia's, what they catch is what you eat. The decades-old restaurant and fish market has its own fleet of fishing boats, so the seafood is as fresh as can be and affordable too. Founded by brothers who fled Cuba in the '60s, Garcia's is a serene spot with great-tasting,...

Technically you're in Brickell, but you might as well be in Barcelona when dining at Perfecto, a modern Spanish gastrobar. Chef-restaurateur Oscar Manresa is proud to say his first eatery outside Catalonia is authentic through and through. Even the chef de cuisine — Daniel Torres — came straight from working...

At Prime Italian, dinner always comes with a side order of top-tier people-watching. But even the quirky characters of Ocean Drive take a back seat to the side dishes offered at this swanky South Beach eatery by restaurateur Myles Chefetz. Many of the "accessories," as they are called ($13), originated...

Remember the Great Compromise? Yeah, neither do we. But we do know that SuViche is our great dining compromise. It's for those meals when you can't decide between sushi or ceviche or when you are torn between two sushi rolls. Here, you can order half rolls. SuViche is versatile, and...

Along Calle Ocho, delicious Cuban food and decadent ice cream are a given. But great Mexican is a bit of a surprise. For more of an unexpected kick, take a bite into Mi Riconcito Mexicano's enormous burrito rolled up and stuffed with your preferred meat, beans, lettuce, salsa, and sour...

Tacos are the ideal food. They're portable for on-the-go eating but are also fine for sitting at the dinner table. They're also just the right size. One is a snack, two make a satisfying lunch, and three or four are a substantial supper. That being said, you still want to...

Elsie Chin has been serving roti and other Trinidadian street food favorites for 28 years. However, her pearls of wisdom are timeless: "There are no forks here — so if you been scratching somewhere, you better go wash your hands." Beyond the sage advice at LC's Roti Shop are delectable...

You say you like your wings spicy, but do you like them seven-sauces hot? Try your luck with the Filling Station's "party in your mouth" wings. They'll cut you down to size or make you a king among your wing-loving friends. For less adventuresome types who just want a taste...

Most Miami restaurateurs are lost in space. Suffering from delusions of grandeur, they quickly overextend themselves. Like solar systems, they expand beyond the bounds of their own gravitational pull. The farther the food orbits from its star, the colder and blander it gets until, finally, flavor goes hurtling off into...

Who is this Ricky and how does he rule North Miami? The person who gave his name to this hole in the wall on NE 123rd Street is the adorable 9-year-old son of owner Giuliano Carrafelli and chef Majcha Manomai. Dad hails from Italy, and Mom is from Thailand. But...

Casa Panza Café may be located in the heart of Little Havana, but the Spanish restaurant brings el sabor español to Calle Ocho. After you walk past the wooden doors, wine barrels, Spanish tile, and hanging ceramic plates, a hostess welcomes you into la cueva. On Friday and Saturday, Juan...

It could be the lure of Miami Beach's beautiful people and electric atmosphere. It could be that the young chef was up for a challenge. It could even be because he was sick of Chicago winters. In any event, the Windy City's loss is the Magic City's gain, because Danny...

Moon-sheen? Moon-cheen? Moon-shine? It might take you three or four visits to figure out how to pronounce the name of this Upper Eastside bistro. But that shouldn't stop you from returning. Standouts include the panang curry and the pad see ew ($9.95 each), but Moonchine is pan-Asian, so you can...

Miamians are welcoming whenever a popular stateside or international restaurant opens an outpost here. But when a talented and innovative local chef unveils his first eatery in the 305, it's an event worth celebrating. That restaurant is Eating House, an intimate Coral Gables pop-up turned permanent fixture. It's where the...

There's something so sexy about the Italian lifestyle. Women in tight skirts riding Vespas, men talking with their hands over a cup of espresso. A few bottles of house-made wine polished off during the day. Bocce Bar embodies the spirit of a day in Rome. It begins when you walk...

Olive stuffed with cheese Molten, salty orb of gold. Pleasure burns the tongue. If you think we're a little off our rocker for waxing poetic about some fried green olives, you clearly haven't tried Strada's Gorgonzola-stuffed olive fritte ($6), just one of many antipasti to begin your eating adventure at...

For more than ten years, the River Seafood & Oyster Bar has been luring Miamians to Brickell with its impressive hand-shucked oyster selection and its superior-quality fish. Something you rarely spot on a local menu despite an abundance of seafood restaurants is wild Faroe salmon, but here you can have...

B&S Gastropub is all about porcine decadence, so if you're not into indulging yourself within an inch of your life, maybe you should go straight home to the monastery. For the rest of us (especially those who enjoy the pleasures of pig flesh), B&S is a snout-to-tail one-way trip to...

Miami is well known for its delicious Cuban food. What many don't realize, however, is the city also serves as a hub for Spain's cultural heritage. Tucked into a shopping center at the intersection of Bird and Red roads, almost overshadowed by Allen's Prescriptions' massive neon "DRUGS" sign, is Delicias...

"You look so relaxed. You fit right in at our Brazilian restaurant. You are welcome back any time." Genuine observations such as these from the gorgeous employees at Boteco will have you returning again and again. Other perks: The large space boasts two patios and a homey vibe. It even...

Never mind the jitney speeding past the storefront. Forget about the chickens traipsing across the parking lot. Fiorito is a small piece of Argentina plopped in the center of Little Haiti. Located in one of the few Miami neighborhoods where the foreign language of choice is not Spanish, this restaurant...

At the Kwik Stop in Coconut Grove, you can get almost anything: Bob Marley relaxation drinks, scratch-off lottery tickets, condoms, and the best freaking pad thai you've ever had. Tucked inside this average-looking convenience store stands a small counter where authentic Thai cuisine is made to order. Try the crisp...

If your idea of Mexican food doesn't dip into the Yucatán Peninsula, you are seriously missing out. In case your Maya language skills are rusty, "cheen huaye" translates to "only here." And only at Cheen Huaye can you try superlative cochinita pibil ($16.95) and poc-choc ($18.95). The pibil features marinated...

Just one whiff of Fritanga Monimbo will have your mouth watering and your brain racing. A quick look at the selection of food steaming on plates in its Plexiglas prison will have your heart aching. Free that carne asada and hide it in your belly. Liberate the beans in the...

Remember when life was simple? When 401K was your score in Street Fighter? When the word "recession" meant nothing and "recess" meant everything? At Marie Patties in Palmetto Bay, life remains suspended in the blissful simplicity of your youth. There is no "menu" here. The only choice is whether to...

Chicken soup may feed the soul and a cold, but it's for amateurs. The roast duck noodle soup ($10.95) at Green Papaya sings to your soul. The bowl is lined with cabbage, and the tender hunks of roast duck hide beneath thin yellow noodles and the most delectable bits of...

Katsuya by Starck, like the SLS Hotel it calls home, is one part design fantasy, one part Cirque du Soleil, and one part dining. At any given time, geishas could be dancing atop tables or LeBron James could be holding court at the table next to yours. At a restaurant...

You're at AmericanAirlines Arena, where the Heat just scored another glorious win or the big concert just wrapped up. You're exhausted and hungry. You need some serious noms to take home. You're in luck, because 3 Chefs is a hop, skip, and a leap north on Biscayne Boulevard. The extensive...

Miami is a nearly perfect city, but there are two flaws. One, of course, is the imminent threat of hurricanes. The other is the serious lack of good Chinese food. While we'll still have to board up our windows if NOAA tells us a big one is coming, our tragic...

Greek restaurants get a bad rap. They're often depicted as depressing, neon-lit diners or kitschy eateries with belly dancing and plate breaking. But spend the summer on one of the Greek islands and you'll likely take your evening meal in a small tavern gently lit by candles. If you want...

Mi Colombia truly is everything. Have a hangover on a Sunday afternoon? Sit at the counter and order the sancocho de gallina — traditional Colombian hen soup. It is a known hangover cure that comes with a large hunk of poultry, yuca, potato, a chunk of corn on the cob,...

Naomi's takes cafeteria-style Caribbean cuisine to the next level. The eatery is owned by the Yemini family, whose members will let you into a secret garden where you can dine on enormous portions of food. Snag a seat outside and take in the art, the waterfall, the music, and the...

It's Sunday and, sure, you could hit your normal brunch buffet with soggy French toast, runny scrambled eggs, and watered-down mimosas. Or you could try something completely different. Head to Sunny Isles Beach for an Indian feast at Copper Chimney. For $19.95, you can choose from more than 20 Indian...

If you're in the market for Cuban comfort food at its finest, head to Molina's in Hialeah. It's the real deal. Service can be slow, but it's authentic homestyle comida, and the menu is as large as a novel. Let's put it this way: A local abogado advertises in it...

Puerto Rican-style Chinese food is one of the finest marriages the world has ever known. And Ming Yuan is the perfect example. True, it's 100 percent authentic Chinese cooking, by Chinese cooks with a Chinese boss. But it's located in Miami's Little San Juan and boasts a diverse staff and...

Biscayne Boulevard and Naples, Italy, have a lot in common. OK, there are no cobblestone streets in the Magic City's MiMo neighborhood, but with a little imagination, you can see more similarities than differences. There are ruins of some formerly beautiful buildings, for example, and you're sure to spot more...

Lorenzo, located at the epicenter of Collins Avenue madness, looks like something you'd see on Rome's Via Veneto. Chic chrome accents the inviting brown leather seating. An espresso and gelato bar anchors the dining room. The man behind the recipes is all old-school Chicago. Tony Mantuano has been turning out...

Specializing in Colombian dishes, Pueblito Viejo presents an authentic restaurant experience that's aesthetically pleasing and delightfully overwhelming. It submerges guests in Colombian culture with its extensive wall decor, culinary presentations, and live music. From the moment you walk through the doorway, you're surrounded by an eccentric interior design that pays...

A dining room reminiscent of a nightclub that's brimming with Miami Beach's glitziest denizens? That's certainly glamorous. Statuesque hostesses in barely-there attire escorting you to your table so you can throw back craft cocktails from the swanky bar and enjoy a Russian royal osetra caviar service costing hundreds of dollars?...

When Jose Mendin and his partners opened Pubbelly in 2010, it was love at first sight for Miami. After all, who wouldn't fall head over heels for a chef who specializes in all things porcine? Unlike say, your first boyfriend, Mendin didn't become lazy with your adoration. Like a suitor...

Contrary to what Publix might have led you to believe, vegetables don't grow out of the ground plastic-wrapped with a three-week shelf life. Industrialized food has so warped our produce sensibilities that you simply must opt into a farm share. A CSA will improve your waistline, your wallet, and all...

Don't be surprised if Mi Vida Cafe has run out of what you'd like to order. It's simply a consequence of the vegan restaurant's ethos of using only fresh and organic ingredients (local when possible) and striving to limit waste. Mi Vida also doesn't believe in microwaves, frying, or preservatives;...

Kim and Louis Duncanson have been farming pure, organic wheatgrass in Miami for about 30 years. They started in an empty yard in Coconut Grove. Then they developed a supersterile hydroponic indoor system in Doral using desalinated seawater and mineral-rich nutrient feeds. Now they produce and distribute a variety of...

You're a cleansing pro. You've tried it all, from the Master Cleanse to the Candida Cleanse. But most have left you feeling hangry (hungry + angry) and less-than-refreshed. Luckily, Ten Fruit's Cleanse Professional is a less than painful way to give your bod a break. This is not a fast...

Odds are high that your meat-loving friend will have no idea that the "soy and wheatballs" he's just eaten at the Honey Tree aren't animal-based. That's because they're ridiculously comforting, as is most of the vegan fare at this lunch counter. Another equally deceptive and soothing item is the eggplant...

Once upon a time, there was a vegetarian burger that didn't pale in comparison to its meaty contemporaries. The hearty and protein-rich patty was made with forbidden rice, turtle beans, and shiitake mushrooms and topped with crushed avocado, goat cheese spread, and roasted tomatoes and red peppers. It was then...

France isn't known for its vegetarian-friendly food. Neither is Miami. But la cuisine française with a meatless twist is an unlikely pairing that has found a cozy little love nest in the Roads. Founded by a family of French immigrants, Eden in Eden is a labor of love; its je...

Bey: Baby, drunk in love was all well and good last night, but today, I'm hung-over and hungry. Jay Z: Me too, baby. I need more than your breasteses for my breakfast. Bey: Remember how trim and tight we felt after our 22 days of veganism? We need to get...

The view from Area 31, located on the 16th floor of downtown's Epic Hotel, is downright breathtaking. Luckily, the restaurant is familiar with the notion of sharing the love and allows Miamians to enjoy the skyline during breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch, happy hour, and dinner. What's more, the food doesn't...

Dear Trader Joe's: It's not every day that I share my feelings, but I had to write to tell you how, like, totally awesome I think you are. For years, I looked longingly at pictures on your website in the hope that one day you would come to Miami. And...

How many times have you shopped at a Miami farmers' market and discovered that the avocados were grown in Mexico? Sure, you won't find too many local apples, but it's a damn shame to buy fruits and vegetables trucked in from far-flung places when South Florida has some great family...

Have you ever enjoyed a weekend in one of those quaint little bed-and-breakfast communities by the seashore somewhere? If so, you'll feel at home at the Village Stand. Nestled on a side street in Miami Shores, this adorable shop brims with delights. Hand-crafted chocolates are displayed next to embroidered dish...

The only bad thing about Noa Cafe in Wynwood is that it's open only for lunch on weekdays. That's because chef-owner Adi Kafri's primary business is a catering company, while the miniature restaurant is her side project. That said, the Israeli native's passion for what she calls her "baby" is...

Barbecue should always begin and end with the nose. The smoky aroma will lead the way as you're cruising along NE 167th Street. When you arrive at Bo Legs, someone will be manning the grill and the chatty lady at the counter will ask you a million personal questions and...

Imagine this: In mere hours, your dinner party guests will arrive. But you have nothing to serve them. Perhaps you got caught up at work, or maybe you simply didn't feel like cooking. Regardless, you're in a bind. This is where the prepared food section at Epicure Gourmet Market &...

Every day except Monday, Tomas Strulovic and his team at True Loaf bake four or five varieties of fresh bread ($9 to $12 a loaf). In the early-morning hours, they shape the sourdough using only their hands and place it in an Italian steam-injected deck oven. Flavors include country, whole...

When Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, dubs you the "Ninja of Flavortown," it's a big deal. It's also a title that chef-owner Richard Hales of Sakaya Kitchen, Dim Ssäm à Gogo food truck, and Blackbrick Chinese undoubtedly deserves. Hales honed his skills in New...

Some secrets are better left untold, such as what makes Gourmet Diner's vegetable soufflé so insanely incredible. The buttery, moist, omelet-like concoction is a side dish that accompanies some main-course selections, but it always steals the show. The starring vegetable changes regularly; the broccoli and cauliflower varieties are especially scrumptious...

Hankering for a meal created by a chef who worked at some of the finest Michelin-rated restaurants in Europe? No need to drive to some fancy-schmancy hotel restaurant and pay $30 for valet. Just find out where Il Fiorentino is parked for the evening. This food truck is unique in...

Saturday and Sunday are already good days, but the $28-per-guest dim sum lunch at Hakkasan makes them that much better. Each prix fixe includes steamed and grilled dumplings with various fillings, an entrée of noodles with beef tenderloin and spinach, baby bok choi with garlic, and dessert. Located on the...

It's odd. Miami is surrounded by some of the most pristine waters in the world, yet very few restaurants here really do justice to beautiful seafood. Lure Fishbar is one of them. This South Florida outpost of a New York City classic serves an overwhelming array of sea creatures. There's...

The Oxford English Dictionary defines raw as "uncooked, in its natural state, not yet processed or purified." Urban Dictionary has a slightly different take. "Sex without a condom" is the leading definition. Coming in second: "slang term for any uncut drug; something pure, unadulterated, hard-core, serious, no kidding, no shit."...

Italian designer Roberto Cavalli has been a fashion icon since the early 1970s, when he shocked Paris with his bold prints. Never one to be a fashion wallflower, Cavalli created colorful designs that made him famous among attention-seeking fashionistas. Now he has brought his signature brand of whimsical eye candy...

Miami is a design-driven city with a plethora of visually stunning restaurants. Unsurprisingly, many eateries turn to the ocean for interior inspiration, but the Local House's beach-chic decor is especially enchanting. Located inside the Sense Beach House boutique hotel, the restaurant attracts diners with its fresh seafood but invites them...

S&S Diner has been around since thirty-eight. That's sure as hell a long-ago date. The food is quite edible and the service incredible. A U-shaped counter fills the pintsize space. Shovel your chow at a leisurely pace. Old movie posters recall a time when you downed a whole turkey for...

They say art feeds the soul. That's all well and good, but after spending hours perusing art, you're starving. And even though that Warhol looks good enough to eat, it tastes like cardboard. Instead, head to Verde Restaurant & Bar, conveniently located inside Pérez Art Museum Miami. This delightful little...

City lights twinkle in the near distance as you enter the oversize patio from the dock. Whether you arrive by yacht or pre-owned Toyota, Seasalt and Pepper's view is gorgeous. Make your way to the bar for a cocktail and a dozen oysters. As you slurp down the cool, briny...

There are times when being a do-it-yourself kind of person works to your advantage. After all, it's pretty handy to change your own tire or make homemade cupcakes. But there are some things that really should be left to the experts — like rewiring the electricity in your house or...

It seems fair to say Miami has the good weather but New York has the good bagels. Yet then there are occasions when it's simply gorgeous in the Big Apple and you can find the perfect bagel in the Magic City. For the latter, Miamians just need to head to...

There are lots of restaurants in the Magic City that dazzle with bright lights, designer table linens, guest DJs, and chefs with acting resumés. But sometimes a place shines so brilliantly that it needs none of that fancy footwork. The District Miami is such a spot. This place claims to...

There's no debating that the food at Rouge is fantastic — the place has arguably the finest seared foie gras in the city. But where this restaurant excels is its ambiance. Once you walk into the red-walled bohemian atmosphere of the interior dining room, you begin to feel far away...

Any original piece by Monet, Picasso, or Rembrandt will cost you more than you'll earn in your lifetime, but the artist-inspired sandwiches and salads at Orange Cafe + Art won't set you back more than a Hamilton. Located in the Design District, this corner eatery and gallery has a menu...

Time your drive for just before sunset. Cruise down the dusty road into a nearly deserted Matheson Hammock Park. Stow your car and pause for a moment, hand-in-hand at the water's edge. Gaze at the brilliant-blue water and sky. Once inside Red Fish Grill, take your table for two on...

At five-star restaurants, you expect to be treated like an A-lister. After all, you're paying through the nose. But for excellent service, you sometimes do better at a neighborhood joint like Italy Today. Located on Main Street in Miami Lakes, the Tuscan-style Italian restaurant serves reasonably priced fresh bruschetta ($9),...

How would a mad scientist eat his ice cream? He'd inject it with enough nitrogen to cover the whole parlor in a frosty mist. But you don't have to be a mad scientist to chill out like one, thanks to Chuck Woodard and Danny Golik, the brainiacs behind Chill-N Nitrogen...

You don't have to travel all the way to Italy for some buono gelato. Located in South Pointe, right across the street from Joe's Stone Crab, is Gelateria 4D. The SoBe outpost of the Italian franchise offers some of the tastiest gusti di gelato this side of the Atlantic. There...

Thank you, Laudurée, for choosing Miami Beach as your next international location after New York City and for bringing a touch of Paris to these shores. Thank you for employing such courteous staff at your Lincoln Road pastry shop. For a moment, we can forget where we are. Thank you...

Enter Palomilla Grill and find yourself surrounded by ceramic trinkets and sunflower paintings that evoke the sensation of a faraway island. The setting is rich with lingering memories and remnants of hearty conversation. This is the kind of place where families go to spend time together and laugh over savory...

What's icy, tangy, zesty, crisp, tart, sweet, smooth and positively peerless? It's the key lime pie ($7.95) at Joe's Stone Crab. It's the kind of dessert you have to eat with your eyes closed to fully take in the multitude of textures and flavors. And like the 100-year-old restaurant's world-famous...

Fro-yo is a way of life. You either get it or you don't. For some, closing an evening by swirling low-fat yogurt into a cup and accessorizing it with myriad toppings is the happiest of endings. Mimi offers that treat in North Beach. The flavors rotate frequently, but salted caramel...

There's so much to love about Restaurant Michael Schwartz. For starters, there's the idyllic poolside setting, which makes for one of the most outstanding outdoor dining experiences on the Beach. Then you have a menu overseen by one of Miami's most acclaimed chef-restaurateurs, Michael Schwartz. Best of all, you've got...

Misha Kuryla-Gomez's cupcakes are pretty, oh so pretty. In fact, it might be impossible to enter Misha's Cupcakes without breaking into a smile. And in this case, appearances aren't deceiving, because these little treats are undeniably divine. Kuryla-Gomez began baking out of her kitchen to earn money while staying close...

Oreos may be vegan, but an unrecognizable Crisco-based filling and some mass-produced chocolate wafers aren't exactly the stuff of a healthy diet. So what are meatless eaters supposed to look forward to at the end of a meal? Enter Beehive Juice Bar's cake du jour. Whipped up daily, the vegan...

Sweat is the city's only vegan coffeehouse. You'd think herbivorous caffeine fiends would be banging down the door. They'd do anything to avoid Starbucks' ludicrous 60-cent upcharge for soy milk. But not so much. Instead, the chocolate coconut lattes ($4) and Panther Coffee espressos at this music lovers' paradise are...

Once upon a time, there was a busy little corner with a café named Mary's. This magical shop, located inside a laundromat, smelled like freshly cleaned blankets and coffee. All sorts of good people gathered there to drink an elixir known as café con leche. This hot beverage, the color...

Of all the cocktails in the world, the martini conjures up the most romance. After all, it's the drink that James Bond sips (shaken, not stirred) in those moments between bedding a gorgeous babe and saving Her Majesty and mankind. Because of that, note must be made not only of...

The bloody mary's origins are continually debated. Its alleged progenitors include Queen Mary I of England, comedian George Jessel, and French bartender Fernand Petiot. Most drinkers, however, don't give a hoot how it began; they just need that good old-fashioned hangover cure — and fast. Though Miami's focus on nightlife...

What sets this wine bar apart from others? It puts wine at the center of everything. At Uvaggio, a classy little hole in the wall on Miracle Mile's long strip, the menu celebrates and elevates the grownups' juice. The menu is shaped by the wine selection. Instead of recommending a...

You might be over the word "chillax," but you can still get behind the sentiment. Try sitting poolside in a non-sceney way with a cold brew while devouring delectable mini crabcakes with bitching sauce ($17). That's what Lou's Beer Garden has to offer. It's a hidden gem in North Beach...

It was only a few years ago that Miami's beer scene was dismal. But then something wonderful happened. Passionate homebrewers emerged and formed a community. These dedicated men and women brewed keg upon keg, turning garages and spare bedrooms into tiny breweries. They spent thousands of dollars only to give...

Some say midnight is the bewitching hour. We say it's the time when dinner's satisfaction has worn away, leaving you with a gnawing hunger. The midnight snack was invented to cure this curious malady, leaving you with a dilemma: Do you go to a diner and stuff yourself with eggs...

There's no doubt fried food is the tastiest food on Planet Earth. Nothing beats consuming all that greasy goodness when it's 3 a.m. on a Sunday and you're drunk. Though pepitos, or Venezuelan subs, are an obvious choice at Pepitolandia, there's much more on the menu to choose from. The...

There's not much we know about Tom Colicchio's still-unnamed restaurant that will open sometime in fall 2014 at the 1 Hotel & Homes in South Beach, so why all the hype? Well, in a world of celebrity chefs who serve donkey sauce and frozen food, Colicchio remains a chef first...